There’s something delicious about the combination of soft fruit and crispy, crunchy toppings that’s just perfect. That’s why, when fall comes around, air fryer pear crisp is one of my favorite things to make. It’s a perfectly sweet dessert and only cooks for 20 minutes, so it’s easy as well!
I love recipes that use mostly pantry ingredients, because it makes it so easy to just throw things together without much planning. If you’ve got some leftover pears or have just come back from the orchard, this is one of those fantastic recipes for using them up!
A crisp is composed of soft, cooked fruit filling (or you can even use pie filling in a pinch). It’s then topped with a crunchy oat-based topping to offer a lovely texture contrast. This is also what sets it apart from other similar desserts.
For instance, a pear crumble also features a crumbed topping, but does not have oats. A cobbler uses a batter topping instead of the streusel type. The base layer is nearly the same between all three dishes, with the top being the nuance between them.
Ingredients and Equipment
For the Pear Filling:
4 pears, peeled, cored, and diced into approximately ½” cubes (I’m using Bartlett)
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
For the Crisp Topping:
½ cup old fashioned or rolled oats
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup cold salted butter, cubed
¼ cup all purpose flour
Equipment: You’ll need an oven-safe dish that fits in your air fryer’s basket or rack for this recipe. I use four 7-ounce ramekins, but you can use a couple mini cake pans or one larger casserole dish, depending on the size of your specific unit.
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
You may also slice your pears if you prefer instead of the cubes, but I like the texture of cubes the best (I find slices get a bit more mushy)
If you want to peel and cut your pears ahead of time, use a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent browning
The cinnamon can be swapped for other warm spices if preferred. Try ginger, nutmeg, allspice, chai spice, pumpkin pie or apple pie spice, or cardamom for unique twists
Choosing the Best Pears
Choosing the right pears is important when preparing a pear crisp. The flavor and texture of your dessert will largely depend on your pear selection! Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting pears for your dish.
Variety: Different pear varieties offer unique flavors and textures. The most commonly used varieties for pear crisps include Anjou, Bartlett, and Bosc. Anjou pears are slightly sweet and firm, Bartlett pears are juicy and sweet when ripe, and Bosc pears have a dense and grainy texture, making them perfect for baking. Of course, you can use other varieties as well, but they’ll make for a different finished dish
Ripeness: For the best results, select ripe pears. Your pears should yield slightly to gentle pressure when squeezed near the stem, but it should not be too soft. You should also notice a fragrant, sweet aroma at the stem end. Avoid overly ripe or mushy pears as they can become too soft and turn to mush when cooked (use them for sauces or preserves instead)!
Color and Texture: Look for pears with smooth, unblemished skin. While some pears change color as they ripen, such as Bartlett pears turning from green to yellow, others like Anjou and Bosc pears maintain their color. Choose pears that match the color characteristic of their variety and are free from uncharacteristic brown spots which can indicate bruises or decomposition
Starting with the best pears in terms of ripeness and texture will give you the best overall finished dish. Of course, that’s not to say your dish won’t be delicious otherwise; it just may not look as “pretty” so feel free to experiment with what you have on hand!
Step By Step Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (177°C) or the closest setting your specific air fryer has. Grease the inside of your ramekins or other baking dish
Combine the cubed pears, cornstarch, vanilla, and cinnamon, stirring to coat evenly. Then, spread them into the bottom of your baking dish (or divide evenly among smaller dishes)
Prepare the topping by combining the oats, flour, brown sugar, and cold cubed butter in a bowl. Use a fork or your hands (I use my hands) to combine them until they form a crumbled looking mixture
Spread the streusel evenly over the pears (give it a little pat to help prevent it flying around), then place the filled dish into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook on the air fry setting for 10-15 minutes at 350°F, or until the top is browned, the filling is bubbly, and the pears are soft. Note that times will vary slightly based on the size of your pear pieces, variety chosen, the baking dish size, and your specific air fryer
Top with ice cream or whipped cream if desired, and serve warm
Can I use Other Fruits Besides Pears for This Recipe?
Certainly! While pears work beautifully for this recipe, you can get creative and use other fruits like apples, peaches, cranberries, or a combination of fruits to make your crisp.
Remember to cut various fruits to similar sizes to promote even cooking.
How do I Store Leftover Pear Crisp?
To store your leftover pear crisp, allow it to cool to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container or cover it with plastic wrap. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
You can reheat it in the air fryer or oven for a few minutes, or the microwave for about 30-45 seconds before serving.
Can I Make This Dessert Gluten Free?
Absolutely! You can easily adapt this recipe to be gluten free by using certified gluten free oats and a gluten free flour substitute (such as almond flour) in place of regular flour.
It’s always recommended to check all of your ingredients that are naturally gluten free to make sure they are certified as such, as cross contamination can happen during processing.
Are There Vegan Options for This Recipe?
Yes, you can make this recipe vegan by using plant based butter or margarine instead of dairy butter. If you wish to use whipped cream or ice cream for the topping, you’ll need a dairy free alternative as well.
Make sure that your other ingredients, such as the sugar, are certified vegan and not processed in a way that would make them non compliant.
Can I Adjust the Sweetness of the Pear Crisp to My Liking?
Of course! Feel free to add 1-4 Tbsp additional sugar to the fruit in the filling for a sweeter version.
You could also add a honey or maple drizzle to the top after cooking for a burst of additional sweetness.
Can I Use Canned Pears Instead of Fresh Ones?
Using canned pears is possible, but know that fresh pears generally hold their texture and flavor better. If you choose to use canned pears, make sure they are well drained before using them in the recipe.
However, fresh pears are recommended for the best overall results.
Recipe Pro Tips
If you don’t want to preheat your air fryer (I’m guilty of that too, sometimes), then just add about 3 extra minutes to cooking time to account for that
This recipe was created and tested in four 7-ounce ramekins in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Note that other dish sizes and air fryers will vary in terms of cooking times
My pears were perfectly cooked and soft after 10 minutes, but I added an additional 5 minutes to brown the topping more (but you can adjust to your liking)!
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover cooled pear crisp wrapped in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It may also be wrapped and frozen before or after cooking for up to 3 months
To reheat, air fry for 3-5 minutes at 350°F, or until heated through (add 3-5 extra minutes from frozen, assuming it’s already cooked). You may also microwave it for 30-45 seconds on high, but the topping will not be crisp anymore
This air fryer pear crisp is so simple to make, but it’s equally delicious! Whether you want to enjoy a single serving from a ramekin, or make a whole tray to feed your crew, it’s going to be a hit!
Thanks to the air fryer, this easy dessert cooks up in under 20 minutes, which saves you a lot of time (and energy) over the traditional oven.
It’s one of my favorite dishes to make during the fall, when fresh pears are abundant. Sometimes, I get creative and mix them with apples or cranberries for a little variety, but this classic recipe is the perfect base!
Simple Air Fryer Pear Crisp
This air fryer pear crisp requires just 8 ingredients and under 20 minutes of cooking time. It’s a simple, quick, and delicious dessert that’s perfect for fall!
4 7-Ounce ramekins (or a larger single baking dish that fits in your air fryer)
Ingredients
For the Pear Filling
4Mediumpears, peeled, cored and diced into approximately ½" cubes(such as Bartlett)
1Tspcornstarch
1Tspvanilla extract
1Tspcinnamon
For the Crisp Streusel
½Cupold fashioned or rolled oats
¼Cupall purpose flour
¼Cupbrown sugar
¼Cupcold salted butter (cut into cubes)
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (177°C) or the closest setting your specific air fryer has. Grease the inside of your ramekins or other baking dish
Combine the cubed pears, cornstarch, vanilla, and cinnamon, stirring to coat evenly. Then, spread them into the bottom of your baking dish (or divide evenly among smaller dishes)
4 Medium pears, peeled, cored and diced into approximately ½" cubes, 1 Tsp cornstarch, 1 Tsp vanilla extract, 1 Tsp cinnamon
Prepare the topping by combining the oats, flour, brown sugar, and cold cubed butter in a bowl. Use a fork or your hands (I use my hands) to combine them until they form a crumbled looking mixture
½ Cup old fashioned or rolled oats, ¼ Cup all purpose flour, ¼ Cup brown sugar, ¼ Cup cold salted butter
Spread the streusel evenly over the pears (give it a little pat to help prevent it flying around), then place the filled dish into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook on the air fry setting for 10-15 minutes at 350°F, or until the top is browned, the filling is bubbly, and the pears are soft. Note that times will vary slightly based on the size of your pear pieces, variety chosen, the baking dish size, and your specific air fryer
Top with ice cream or whipped cream if desired, and serve warm
Notes
You may also slice your pears if you prefer instead of the cubes, but I like the texture of cubes the best (I find slices get a bit more mushy)
If you want to peel and cut your pears ahead of time, use a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent browning
The cinnamon can be swapped for other warm spices if preferred. Try ginger, nutmeg, allspice, chai spice, pumpkin pie or apple pie spice, or cardamom for unique twists
If you don’t want to preheat your air fryer (I’m guilty of that too, sometimes), then just add 2-3 extra minutes to cooking time to account for that
This recipe was created and tested in four 7-ounce ramekins in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Note that other dish sizes and air fryers will vary in terms of cooking times
My pears were perfectly cooked and soft after 10 minutes, but I added an additional 5 minutes to brown the topping more (but you can adjust to your liking)!
Store leftover cooled pear crisp wrapped in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It may also be wrapped and frozen before or after cooking for up to 3 months
To reheat, air fry for 3-5 minutes at 350°F, or until heated through (add 3-5 extra minutes from frozen, assuming it’s already cooked). You may also microwave it for 30-45 seconds on high, but the topping will not be crisp anymore
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and variety of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Keyword air fryer dessert recipes, air fryer pear crisp, air fryer pear crisp with oats, air fryer pear recipes, ninja air fryer pear crisp, quick and easy desserts
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
